The Devil and the Dark Water

‘If you read one book this year, make sure it’s this one’ Daily Mail

CHOSEN AS A BOOK OF THE YEAR BY THE GUARDIAN, SUNDAY TIMES, DAILY MAIL, FINANCIAL TIMES, DAILY EXPRESS AND i PAPER

WINNER OF THE BOOKS ARE MY BAG READERS AWARD FOR FICTION

SELECTED FOR THE BBC TWO BOOK CLUB BETWEEN THE COVERS AND THE RADIO 2 JO WHILEY BOOK CLUB

Set in the ominous year of 1634, The Devil and the Dark Water is a spellbinding historical mystery by Stuart Turton that transports readers to a perilous voyage filled with chilling perils and supernatural elements. Samuel Pipps, the most brilliant detective of his time, finds himself shackled and en route from the Dutch East Indies to Amsterdam. With his fate hanging in the balance, he faces trial and possible execution for a crime shrouded in uncertainty.

Accompanying him is the steadfast and loyal bodyguard, Arent Hayes, a man determined to prove Pipps' innocence. Also aboard the ship is Sara Wessel, an enigmatic noblewoman harbouring her own secrets, and her husband, the imposing governor-general of Batavia. However, the journey soon takes a dark turn as inexplicable and sinister events begin to unfold the moment the ship sets sail.

A mysterious symbol emerges on the ship's sail. A leper, who was believed to be dead, begins to haunt the decks. Livestock are gruesomely slaughtered under the cover of night. Whispers echo through the darkness, delivering ominous promises of unholy miracles: an impossible pursuit, an impossible theft, and ultimately, an impossible murder. As these eerie occurrences escalate, passengers and crew alike are consumed by fear and suspicion. Could a demonic force be at work?

With Pipps imprisoned and unable to investigate, the responsibility falls to Arent and Sara. Together, they must navigate the treacherous waters of intrigue and danger, uncovering secrets from their pasts to solve a mystery that threatens everyone on board. Their quest for the truth becomes a race against time as the ship sails into treacherous and unknown waters.

'A glorious mash-up of William Golding and Arthur Conan Doyle' - Val McDermid

'A superb historical mystery: inventive, twisty, addictive, and utterly beguiling... A TRIUMPH' - Will Dean

From the mind behind the extraordinary The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, winner of the Costa Best First Novel Award, comes an audacious and original new high-concept murder mystery. The Devil and the Dark Water is a masterful tour de force that will captivate readers with its inventive narrative, richly created historical setting, and unforgettable characters. Dive into a tale where nothing is as it seems, and the devil might just be closer than you think.